Packaging machine



Sept. 2, 1952 .1. H. STROOP PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 INVENTOR. fill: Shoo, BY

IITTUR/Vf Y Sept. 2, 1952 H, STRQOP 2,608,809

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 P 2, 1952 J. H. STROOP' 2,608,809

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

w Siroap BY I] T TOIPNE Y Sept. 2, 1952 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 1 N V EN T0 Shoo TTUR V f M'immmr Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT i Pad-Y-Wa-x Company, Inc., New acorporat ion'of New York This invention relates machines '1" or Ila-chag ing ."ar ticles -bylem'relopi'n-g'them in flexible materials, and is particularly concerned with apparatus for automatically forming the packa in material into article-receiving pockets'independently of the articles themselves, feeding the articles into said pockets and sealing the material around the articles to produce hermetically sealed packages. a While the mechan' "m'of the invention is capable of packaging commodities or various sizes andcharacterist'ic-s anyTof the numerous kinds of vpressure or .heatsealable materials which are or may beavailaiblait is well adapted for packaging pills and other pharmaceutical". products between opposed layers of metal foil or heat sealable plastic material, such as'cellophane or materials 'havinga thermoplastic coating. vArticles of this character normally require unusually careful handling during packaging in order to avoid, damage and consequent impairment of their nedicinal'value, but can be safely, rapidly and economically'handl ed by gthe apparatusof the present intention; i Y I There are variousmachines} already known Applieation l ebr uary10,195.0, Serial No. In Great Britain May 12,

'..-"29.(') laims. (Cl. 53-186) amen are adaptable to the same general purpose, asthat of the invention, such asthe apparatus disclosed'in my earlier United States VPatent #2,24 8,47'l,ibut a primary obj ect of this invention isto improve on the construction and method of operation of these prior devices so as to provide asimpler, more efficient, and less "expensive mi o hanism for high-speed, automatic production of hermetically sealed commoditypackages, particularly those containing articles which are relatively susceptible to injury by mechanical hanin The invention maybe briefly described as a packaging machine of thecharacter indicated, including a pair of rotatable elements around which pass webs or films of flexible heat or pressure "scalable strip material and which cooperate "with a forming, feeding and fillingdcvice which is automatically actuated in timed relation to the rotationof said elements to preform'the material to produce 'article receiving envelopes or'conconstructed as to hermetically seal theinaterial with thearfticlefe eding operation. V

The rotatf hle elements are preferably heated about the j article substantially simultaneously and; are provided cooperating sealing sur- York, 'N.'Y.,

changed in posi-tionso as to provide-a relatively easy adjustment and control of fthe period of contact of said material with said rotor in accordance with the heat sealing characteristics of the particular packaging material being utilized. The machine also includes 'acutting mechanism for partially or completel yseparating the formed commodity-containing packagesinte finished units containing oneoi 'irr-p're artic es-erin any other desired manner. A1so-='-included in the mechanism are means. whereby ithe "formed packages may be; quickly and'readi-ly-removed from the machine by a conveyor belt or other suitable means ifdes'iredi T I Although the particular embodiment or the machine described in this specification 'is' intended for the packaging of commodities of-predetermined size and characteristics, i. e., pills or other pharmaceuticalprocuats of a like nature';--the machine may also be used for packaging fluids or free flowing solids, particularly loose pourables such as powders or granular material. When'themachine is to be used, forpackaging fluids' or free flowing solids, the'feedirig'and filling device is provided with adelivery spout o r'ori-fice ol fie iible walled construction which is opened orclosed by cam action in .timedrelation to the movement of the rotatable elements to measure the 'snccessive charges of material; and with which is associated one or more movable we'b-engaginglmembers adapted to preform the cornmodity receivng paces It o 2'' An object of this invention is a provision of an improved machine for forming commodity-containing packages of strips or webs of flexible packaging material, r

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved packaging machine for forming hermetically sealed commodity-containing packages from strips or Webs of flexible-packaging material that is simple and inexpensive in construction and is capable of operation at higher speeds than are possible with similar devices now available in the art.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for forming hermetically sealed commodity-containing packages of strips or webs of flexible packaging material capable of utilizing varied packaging materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for forming commodity-containing packages of strips or webs offiexible packaging material wherein the commodity is hermetically sealed by a plurality of continuous independent barrier seals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for forming commodity-containing packages of strips or webs of flexible material having a pair of matched rotatable elements for the formation of a multiplebarrier hermetic seal about the packaged commodity.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improvedmachine for forming commoditycontaining packages of strips or webs of flexible material which may be'utilized to package solids, loose pourables or liquids.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine that is easily adapted to packaging different sized commodities in varying types ofpackaging material.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved packaging machine of the type described including an improved package-forming and article-depositing element.

Another object is to provide an improved packaging machine which may be readily adapted to the thermoplastic characteristics of varying packaging materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method ofconstructing sealing elements for forming multiple continuous barrier seals in the fabricated packages.

Another object ofthis invention is the provision of an improved hermetically sealed commodity-containing package.

Another and further object of this invention is the provision of a novel construction of a sealing element for use in packaging machines of this general character.

These and other objects will appear more fully upon a consideration of the detailed description of the embodiments of the invention which follow.

For a better understanding of the nature of the invention, a practical form thereof will now be described in detail. In the illustrative example chosen; it will be assumed that the machine is toproduce a continuous strip of individually packaged pharmaceutical tablets of friable character, the packaging material being a transparent, thermoplastic film, such as cellophane, and each tablet being surrounded by a plurality of continuous barrier seals which form a hermetic enclosure therefor.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation generally on the line 2--2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is an oblique view of the commodity-containing packages formed by the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of r 4 modity-defining pocket and the plurality of rectangular barrier seal forming serrations;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of one of the rotatable elements illustrating a commodity-defining pocket and the plurality of circular barrier seal forming serrations;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side sectional view of a portion of the forming and feeding mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged schematic view partially in section showingthe construction of the feeding mechanism adapted for loose pourables; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged schematic representation of an embodiment of the feeding mechanism adapted for liquids.

The principal elements of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the drawings, include a frame generally designated as A on Fig. 1, including means for supporting the rolled webs of packaging material in strip form, a rotor assembly for forming and sealing the packages generally designated as B on Fig. l, a forming, feeding and filling mechanism, generally designated as C on Fig. 1, which cooperates. with the rotors to form the packages and delivers the commodities, i. e., tablets, to the formed packages in timed relation to the operation of the rotors, and a cutter mechanism, generally designated as D? on Fig. 1 for either partially or completely severing either individual packages or groups of packages from the strip at the delivery end of the machine. 7

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 4, '7 and 9, there is provided a frame A comprising a U-type casting having a horizontally disposed base ill and a pair of vertical spaced side plates 12 and I4 which are suitably machined to support the various shafts and other element of the operating mechanism. One of the side plates I2 is provided with horizontally disposed extended support arms I6 and 18 for the packaging material.. The support arms 16 and 1B are either cast integrally with the frame A or are detachably connected thereto. In the ends of the support arms [6 and I8 are journaled horizontally disposed shafts 20 and 22 for rotatably supporting rolls of strip or web packaging film 24 and. 2'6 which are either homogeneousll thermoplastic or are coated with thermoplastic sealing materials. The support arms l6 and I8 extend outwardly from the frame in opposite directions and support the rolls of packaging material 24 and 25 with their axes substantially parallel to those of sealing rotors 28 and 30.

To secure easy and constant alignment of the rolls of packaging material an improved mount therefor is provided. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the shaft 20 has a hub 36 fixedly positioned thereon by the collars 38 and 40. Mounted on the hub 36 and spaced therefrom by ball bearings 42 is a freely rotatable hub 44. Mounted on the hub 44 and spaced substantially apart are three spring tension clips 46'. Conventional rolls of packaging material, andparticularly cellophane, are supplied wound ona cylindrical cardboard spool 48. The cardboard spool 48 ismanually forced over the spring tension clips 46 in such a manner as to deflect said clips a slight amount. The spring-like characteristics of said clips 46 maintain the supply material in alignment and fixed in position for feedingthe packaging material onto the sealing rotors 28 and 30.

The films of packaging material in strip form are drawn from the under portions of the supply apogee rolls 20 and 26 mounted on the supporting arms I6 and I8 and are directed around suitable idler guide rollers 56 through 62 in such a manner that they first come into contact with the rotors 28 and 30 at points on the periphery thereof which are spaced away from the tangential sealing line intermediate said rotors. The idler rollers are positioned and supported by the vertical side plates I2 and I4. If desired, the idler rollers 50 through 82 may be shifted in location to bring the webs of packaging into contact with the rotors 28 and 30, at any predetemined location so as to obtain a dwellof the strips on said rotors in accordance with the" heat sealing characteristics andthermoplastic requirements of .the particular package material being utilized. The provision for obtaining any desired amount of dwell of the packaging material upon the rotors 28 and 38 either alone or together VIH'th an accurate control of the temperature of said sealing rotors 28 and 38 permits the utilization of varying packaging materials and affords an accurate control of the sealing efficiency of the machine by conditioning the packaging material in accordance with its thermoplastic characteristics so as to obtain a seal under the optimum sealing conditions for the particular packaging material utilized.

The rotor assembly comprises a pair of rotors 28 and 30 mounted on horizontal shafts 64 and 68 and extending between the side plates I2 and ll of the frame, having their peripheries substantially in contact with each other at the tangential sealing location 88. The shafts 64 and 86 are rotatably supported at each end by small bearing blocks 70, I2, l4 18 positioned inhorizontally disposed machined channels 18 and 80 in the vertical side plates I2 and I4, respectively, which closely limit movement of the rotors -28 and 38 in the vertical plane but permit easyhorizontal positioning of said rotors. Suitable spacing blocks 82, 84, 88' and 88sized toride in said channels 18 and 80 and adapted to be securely fixed in position are provided to position the bearing blocks I0, 12, I4 andlfi and thus position the rotors 28 and 38. To position the shafts 64 and 6B transversely of said side plates I2 and I4 positioning collars 80 and 02 are provided,

The sealing rotors 28 and 30 are geared together by the gears 94 and 80 (see Fig. 4) and are adapted to counter-rotate equivalently. The drive for continuous rotation of the sealing rotors 28 and 30 originates at an electric motor 98 (see Fig. 1) mounted on the horizontal base-plate I0 of the frame. The motor 98 rotates a driving sprocket I00 which is connected by a suitable drive chain I02 to a drive sprocket I04 mounted on the shaft 84 adjacent the sealing rotor 28. A suitable tensioning idler roller I06 mounted on arm I08 pivotally mounted on the frame and biased by a spring I I0 controls the tension in the drive chain I02. In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 1, the drive chain I02 also engages a sprocket I I2 mounted on a belt pulley II4 for driving a conveyor belt H6. The conveyor belt IIG may be used, if desired, to transmit the finished commodity-containing packages from the machine to an inspection station or to another operating unit.

Each of the rotors 28 and 30 is provided with one or morev series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining recesses or pockets I22 of a size slightly larger than that of the tablets to be packa'ged'and the gearing of the two rotors together by the gears 94 and 96 must be such as to assure the proper continual exact registry of the recesses or pockets I22 on each of said rotors, as the rotors 28; and 30 rotate in response to the rotation of. themotor 98 through the above described'drive linkage. In some cases it may be advantageous to providepockets only in one of the rotors instead of in both.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings; each rotor is provided with two adjacent'banks of commodity-definin recesses or pockets I22 positioned in spaced array on its periphery. However, if desired, rotors having a single series of recesses or rotors having three, four or more series of recesses may be utilized in accordance with the production requirements of the commodity to be packaged.

The construction of themachine of the type disclosed in this application is particularly advantageous in that rotors having a number of series of recesses positioned axially thereon may be utilized in accordance with production requirements'of the commodity to be packaged due to the fact that webs of material are maintained in contact with the surfaces of the rotors as the material is advanced to'the sealing location. The web can be made'as wide as necessary, and the space above the rollers between the webs isunobstructed so that gang feed members or any appropriate number of individual feeding members, each of with its hollow mandrel, may be utilized to cooperte with the corresponding number of series ofrecesses on the rotors.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, each of the commodity-defining recesses or pockets I22 spaced on the periphery of-the rotors 28 and 30 is surroundedbyafplurality'of closely spaced continuous'independent concentric serrations I24. The serrations I24 which surround each of the pockets I22 on the sealing rotor 28 have cooperating matching counterpartson the sealing rotor 30. Fig. 5 illustrates one embodiment wherein the plurality of continuous independent serrations are rectangularly disposed around the commodity defining pocket I22, while Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment wherein the plurality of continuous independent conoentric'serrations I24 are circularly disposed around the commodity-defining pocketi22. v,

The serrations I24 on'the sealing rotors 28 and 38 coact topform" a, multiple barrier seal in the packaging material around the commodity positioned in the center thereof as the strips or webs of packaging material pass through the tangential sealing location 88 (seeFigs. 4 and 7) between the sealing rotors 28 and 30. Each of the commodity-defining pockets I22 and its associated plurality of continuous independent serrations is bounded by relatively deep longitudinal grooves I28 and transverse grooves I28. The grooves I28and I28 embedded in the surface of the rotors 28 and 30 serve .to' define the bounds of the package to be formed.

In addition, the longitudinal grooves I20 pro- Vide a track in which the points of the disengaging blade members'l30, I32, I38 and I38 ride (see Figs. 1, 2 and '7). The blade members I30 and I32 are mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft I38 supported by the side plates I2 and I4 of the frame. In a similar manner the blade members I34 and I30 are mounted on a; horizontally disposed shaft I40. The tips of the-blade members I30 through I38 being thus disposed beneath the sealing surfaces of the sealing rotors 28 and 30 serve todisengage the formed packages from the surfaces of said rotors 28 and 30 and to direct said formed packages in their downward movement between said blade members. .The blade members should be slidably mounted on their respective supporting shafts so as to be shiftable in location in accordance with the spacing of the definin grooves on sealing rotors of varying dimensions. I

If it is desired to form-asingle line'of packages on the illustrated dual machine, the disengaging blade members may be positioned in engagement with the longitudinal groove intermediate .the dual series of commodity-defining pockets illustrated in the drawings whenever it is desired to form a single array of packages through only utilizing half the available sealing surfaces of the rotors 28 and 36.

As the sealing rotors 28 and 30 are intended to provide a hermetically sealed commodity-containing package having a multiple barrier seal disposed around the packagedarticle, it is essential to have the serrationsIM on one of said rotors to be sealing counterparts of the serrations I24 on the other of said rotors. Therefore, as a part of this invention, there is included a simple and inexpensive method of sealing rotor formation.

This presently preferred method of forming matched sealing rotors is to have oneniaster rotor formed of hard material, such as 24 ST hard aluminum, and engraved with a plurality of grooved, continuous, rectangular sealing lines or serrations I24Qsurrounding each of the commodity-defining recesses .or pockets I22 embedded on the surface thereof. The master rotor is then placed in the above described frame and maintained in compressive engagement with the surface of a dead soft mating rotor formed of a soft material, such as 61 ST aluminum or like material. Positive rotation of the rotors through the above described drive mechanism, results in a reproduction of the engraved pattern of the master rotor on the second or soft rotor.

The above provides a simple and economical method of producing perfectly matched sealing surfaces by driving said rotors with their surfaces in tight compressive contact with each other resulting in an embossin of the pattern of the master rotor on the soft surface of the second rotor. After the sealing pattern has been applied to the soft rotor, it is, or the surface thereof is, then hardened by conventional known methods and is ready for use, together with the master rotor, in the packaging machine. 7

After the sealing pattern has been transferred from the master rotor to the soft rotor and said soft rotor has been treated to provide a hardened surface thereon, they are re-assembled in the machine in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 with sufiicient clearance at the tangential sealing location 68 to receive the opposed films of sealing material therebetween and to press the latter into sealing condition forming a plurality of continuous independent barrier seals disposed about the commodity-containing area.

To obtain a desired degree of plasticity in the packaging material in the vicinity of the tangential sealing location 68, heating elements are included in each of the sealing rotors 28 and 38. Referrin now particularly to Fig. 9 which illustrates the sealing rotor 28, and with the understanding that the sealing rotor 38 is similarly constructed, there is provided an annular recess I48 in the body of the rotor 28. Rotatably mounted on the portion of the shaft 64 contained within the recess I48 is an annular heating element I50. The heating'element I58 comprises a hellvcally wound resistance element mounted on soapstone. or other heat resistant insulating material and .so" positioned within the recess I48 in the rotor that the resistanceelement lies immediately. below the sealing surface thereof. The heating element I58 has a fiat horizontally disposed plate I52 mounted thereon. This plate is adapted to be secured to a similar plate I54 (see Fig. 4) mounted on the heating element associated with the sealing rotor 38. The securing of theseplatesfll52 and I54 positions the heating elements and prevents their rotating in conjunction with their respective sealing rotors.

The heating circuit is composed of a low energy circuit, such as a six volt circuit, actuating a thermostaticswitch I56 mounted on the plate I52 and directly associated with the resistance elements of the heater elements, and a suitable power relay activated by the low energy circuit is an arcuate quadrant shaped filler duct I62 pivotally mounted on the shaft 22 on the support arm I8. The upper end of the arcuate duct I62 is substantially horizontal and supports a trough I64 positioned beneath the lip I66 of a vibrating feed table I68 mounted on a supporting platform I18 formed by an extended portion of the support arm I8. The trough I64 extends backwardly beyond the lip I66 so as to continually remain in receiving position during its reciprocating action. The tablets to be packaged are fed onto the table I68 from a supply hopper I12 supported by an "adjustable post-.114. The tablets to be packaged ardirected into the duct I62 by the vibrating feed table I68. When in the duct I62 the tablets are formed into two columns by the action of acentrally disposed abutment I16 and are maintained therein and limited to a depth of a single tablet by an arcuate cover member I18.

The lower end of the arcuate duct I62 lie in a substantially vertical plane closely adjacent the tangential'sealing location 68 intermediate the sealing rotors 28 and 30. Mounted on the lower end of'the arcuate quadrant-shaped filler duct I62 and positioned at the ends of the tablet columns contained therein are a pair of extended trough-shaped mandrels I86 and I82 which-cooperate with the commodity-defining pockets I22 to form a tablet-receiving pocket in the packaging material and permit the tablets to pass therethrough. The duct I62 is reciprocable in the Plane of its are in timed relation with the rotation of the rotors 28 and 38 through the action of the actuating cam I84 mounted on the shaft 64 and the rotatable cam follower I86 line in. each of said columns. Specifically (s Fig. '1) there: is provided a spring member 200 s cur at one end to. the. upper surface of the arcuate duct I62. The member 200 is normally biased away from the surface of the duct I62- Mounted on the free end of the spring member 200 is a rectangularly shaped cap 202 of a depth at least twice that of the. depth of the duct I62 at that location. Mounted on the end of the cap 202, and spaced approximately a tablets distance apart are oppositely extending pairs of tines 204,

206. When the cap 202 is in its normally biased position, i. e., away from the. surface of the duct I62, the tines 204 by extending through suitable apertures in the lower surface of the duct. I62 are positioned blocking each of, the tablet columns and halt the motion. or the column of tablets. At the same time. as the tines, 204 are disposed across the tablet column, the tines 206 are removed from blocking engagement in th mouth of the tablet columns in the duct IBZjpermitting any tablet positioned between said p ir of tin to fall out of, the duct. Conversely when the tines 206 are positioned across the mouth of the tablet columns, the tines 20.4v are removed from blocking engagement. therewith and permit the tablets in the column to a vance to the mouth of the column where they are halted by the tines 206. As the spring member returns to its nor mally biased position. the tines 204. intercept the tablet column and the concurrent removal of the tines 206 from the mouth. oi the duct permit the let d posed between the. tines 20.4, 2.06 to fall. under the influence of gravity, out. of the filling duct I62.

It should be clearly understood that. two pairs of tines as above described are provided for each of the tablet columns. in theduct I62. The. utiliration of tines as an arresting mechanism is pre ierred due to the conventional circular shape of pharmaceutical pills, however other arresting means, such asv a solid bar or plate could also be. utilized within the. scope oi the invention.

The cap 202v having the tines 204, 206 mounted thereon is horizontally reciprocated by the. engagement of the actuating arm. 2.08 with the cam roller 2E0 in the reciprocable movement of the duct I62 as, described above. 7 The cam roller 2 I is positioned by the arm 2I2, mounted on and Spaced. from the vertical side plate I41 by the. positioning members 2M. (see Fig. 2.)...

Through the. above described structures, the

duct E62 is reciprocable in the plane of its arc in timed relation with the rotation of the sealing rotors 28 and 30 so as to move the package-forming mandrels I80 and I82 on the lower end thereof downwardly between the opposed webs of packaging material on the surfaces of the sealing rotors 28 and 30 to form a pocket, in cooperation with the commodity-defining pockets I22, of pre determined volumetric characteristics therebetween, to receive a tablet which is simultaneously dropped from, the duct I62 when the actuating arm 208 moves downwardly out of engagement with, the cam roller 2H1. The upward portion of the reciprocating movement of the duct I62 removes the mandrel-like members I80 and 82 from the package-forming location and clears the sealing areas for the continued rotation of the rotors 28 and 30. In addition, the upward movement of the duct I62 brings. the actuating arm 208 into engagement with the cam roller 2 I 0, mov- 1.0 permitting a new tab et to be moved into the po tion of the duct disposed between the tines. 20d and 206.

The reciprocating movement of the filler duct I 6 2 also produces. at its. upper substantially horizontally disposed end, a vibrational or shaking action which augments. the feed of tablets in the trough 160 and the directing of the same into the tablet columns within the duct I62.

The actuating cam I84. which controls the reciprocating action of the duct. I62 is mounted on the shaft 64 which provides an accurate timing of the movement oi the. duct I62 in response to rotation of thesealing rotor 28..

As explained above, the two strips of packaging material are drawn from the underside of the supply rolls and passed over the idler rolls 5. 50, and 62in such av fashion that they first come incontact with the sealing rotors 28 and 30 in a substantial angular distance away from the tangential sealing location 68. As the paokaging material flows over the surface. of the sealing rotors 28 and. 30 through this predetermined arc, there is ample time for heat transfer and a resultant plasticizing; of. the whole web or a thermoplastic coating on the web.. This feature eliminates the machine speed time element which is normally a general factor to be considered in most sealing operations and there is no physical limitation placed on the speed or operation imposed by the filling or other operationsincidental to the actual packaging of the commodities.

As the preplasticized. or heatedstrips of packaging material approach the tangential sealing location 60 intermediate the sealing rotors 28 and 60, the arcuate filling duct IE2 is brought down through the action of the cam I64 so that the mandrel-like, members. I80 and l82 positioned on the end thereof. enter between the approaching webs and in cooperation with the commodity-defining pockets 122 on the surface of the sealing rotors 28. and 30 form a pocket of definite voluing the tines 20$ across the mouth of the tablet metric character tov receive the tablets which are simultaneously released by the above described feeding mechanism. This is all continuously done in motion, and the webs having had their pockets formed i'. hroughv the above described c.0- operating action of the mandrels I and I82 and the commodity-defining pockets I22, the tablet placed and. a complet multiple. b rrier s al fiected as each package passes through the seallng zone. p} r I A portion of thestrip of formed packages is il ustrated Fig. 3,. The tablets 220 are positioned between the packaging material 222. Each of the tablets is. surrounded by-a plurality of continuous independent seals 224 which form a multiple barrier seal. The longitudinal grooves I26 and transverse grooves I26 embedded on the surface of the sealing rotors 28 and 60 as described above, result in a plurality of spaced lines 226 defining the commodity-containing package.

After the packages have been formed and sealed in the manner described above, the strip of sealed packages is advanced past an anvil 230 positioned beneath the tangential sealing location 68. Cooperating with the anvil 230 is a cutting blade 22,2 mountedin an, Mm 234. The arm 234 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 236 (see-Fig. 2) positioned between the vertical side Plates I2 and I l adjacent the horizontalbase Ill. The cutting arm 234 is adapted to be moved into cuttingrelationship with the anvil 230 by a powerful spring 236. The cutting arm 234 is maintained in a retracted or non-cutting position by. the

action of a crank 240, pivotally mounted on the vertical side plate 14 at 242. One arm 244 of the crank 24!) engages the arm 234 and the other arm 246 terminates in a cam follower 248 maintained in engagement with a cam 250 mounted on the shaft 66 by a biasing spring 252. The cam 250 is shaped so as to provide a sharp release of the cutting arm 234, which is then moved into cutting relationship with the anvil 230 under the influence of the powerful tension spring 238. The cam 258 is als provided with an adjacent sharp rise to quickly remove the cutting arm 234 from cutting relationship with the anvil 230 immediately after contact therewith. The earn 250 may, of course, be designed to sever any desired number of packages in accordance with a customer's desires. The cutting blade 232 may be shaped so as to either sever the packages completely from each other or to provide a serrated groove intermediate the packages.

It will be understood that the arcuate filling duct I 62 described above is adapted to handle tablets or other solid objects whose deposition may be controlled by a counting or depositing mechanism of the type described above. However, the duct I62 may be modified to convey loose, free flowing pourables by the inclusion of a depositing mechanism adapted to release volumetric quantities of the material being handled. To these ends a modification such as that disclosed in Fig/10 may be utilized. In this embodiment a spring member 260 is provided with oppositely disposed solid blocking members 262, 264 instead of the times described above in connection with tablet handling. The actuating mechanism for controlling the positioning of the blocking members 262 and 264 is similar in construction to and functions in a similar manner as that described above for tablet handling.

It will be further appreciated that the arcuate filling duct 162 could be readily adapted to convey fluids to the volumetrically preformed packages. To these ends, a modification such as that illustrated in Fig. 11 may be utilized. A nozzle 210 having a known orifice may act as a forming mandrel in addition to regulating the quantity of fluid released. In this modification the spring member 212 serves as a mount for a clamping arm 2' adapted to compress a flexible diaphragm 216 against an abutment 218 in the duct. The actuating mechanism for controlling the positioning of the clamping arm 214 is similar in construction and function to that described above for tablet handling. In the embodiment described above, there would be a regulation of the head pressure in the duct for controlling the quantity of fluid which would pass through the known orifice in the nozzle 210 during the time it was introduced into the package.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for forming commodity-containing packages of strips of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of similarly sized rotatable elements having a plurality of continuous matched independent sealing serrations disposed around matched commodity-defining pockets thereon, a reciprocable mandrel operative in timed relationship with said rotatable elements and cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding member for depositing a commodity in said package formed by said mandrel and said commodity-defining pocket.

2. The combination asset forth in claim 1 wherein said mandrel is so formed as to permit the commodity to pass the mandrel and enter the package.

3. In a machine for forming hermetically sealed commodity-containing packages of strips of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of matched counter-rotating sealing elements having a plurality of continuous matched independent sealing serrations disposed around matched commodity-defining pockets thereon, a reciprocable mandrel operative in timed relationship with said counter-rotating sealing elements and cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding member for depositing a commodity in said package formed by said mandrel and said commodity-defining pocket.

4, The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of continuous independent sealing serrations are rectangularly and concentrically disposed around the commodity-defining pockets.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of continuous independent sealing serrations are circularly and concentrically disposed around the commodity-defining pockets.

6. A machine for forming commodity-containing packages from two independent strips of flexible packaging material, comprising, means for supporting independent rolled webs of the packaging material, a pair of matched rotatable elements between which the strips of packaging material are passed, a plurality of matched commodity-defining pockets spaced in a predetermined array on the peripheries of said rotatable elements, a plurality of continuous independent matched sealing serrations disposed around each of said commodity-defining pockets for efiecting a plurality of continuous barrier seals on said packaging material as it passes between said rotatable elements, a reciprocable mandrel operative in timed relationship with said rotatable elements and cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding member for depositing a commodity in said package formed by said mandrel and said commodity-defining pocket.

'7. In a machine for forming commodity-containing packages of two independent webs of packaging material, in combination, a pair of matched sealing rotors whose surfaces abut each other at a sealing location, means for supporting independent webs of packaging material, guiding members for introducing said webs of packaging material in contact with the surfaces of said sealing rotors at a location spaced from said sealing location, a plurality of matched commodity-defining pockets spaced in a predetermined array on the surfaces of said rotors, a plurality of continuous independent sealing serrations disposed around each of said commoditydefining pockets for efiecting a multiple barrier seal in the packaging material as said material is advanced through the sealing location, a reciprocable mandrel operative in timed relationship with said sealing rotors and cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding mem-v her for depositing a commodity in said package formed by said mandrel and said c mmoditydefining pocket. 3'

8. In a machine for forming commodity-contaming packages of two webs of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pairof similarly sized rotatable elements abutting each other at a tangential sealing location and having a plurality of continuous, matched, independent sealing serrations disposed around each of a plurality of commodity-defining pockets spaced in a prodetermined array thereon, said serration being to effect a multiple barrier hermetic seal in the packaging material as said material is advanced through the sea-ling location, means for delivering said strips of packaging material to said tangen tial sealing location in continuous contact with the surfaces of said rotatable elements, means for softening said webs by heat as they contact said rotatable elements, a mandrel operative in timed relationship with said rotatable elements and cooperatively associated with said commoditydefining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding member for depositing a commodity in said package formed by said mandrel and said commodityedefining pocket. I

9. In a machine for forming a commoditycontaining package of two webs of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of similarly sized rotatable elements having a plurality of continuous matched independent sealing serrations disposed around each of a plurality of commodity-defining pockets spaced in a predetermined array thereon, said pair of rotatable elements abutting each other at a. tangential sealing location, guiding rolls for placing said webs of packaging material in contact with the surfaces of said rotatable elements at a predetermined angular distance apart from said tangential sealing location, a reciprocable filling duct operative in timed relation with said sealing elementsv to advance a column of commodities toward said sealing location, a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding member for depositing commodities in said packages formed by said mandreland said commodity-defining pockets;

10. In a machine for forming commodity com taining packages of webs, of. flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair: of similarly sized rotatable elements having a pluralityof; continuous matched independent sealing Serrations disposed around matched commoditydefining pockets thereon, heating elements con tained within said rotatable elements for raising the surface temperatures thereof, said pair of rotatable elements abutting each other at a tan-' gential sealing location, means for placingsaid webs of flexible packagingmaterial in contact with the surfaces. of said rotatable elements .at a predetermined angular distance from said tangential sealing location, a reciprocable. mandrel operative in timed relationship with saidrotatable elements and cooperativelyassociated. with commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and commodity-feeding members for depositing commodities in said packages formed by said mane drels and said commodity-defining pocketsfl v 11. In a machine for forming acom'rnodity containing package of web offfi'exible packaging material, in combination, a ,pairfof similarly sized rotatable elements having a'plurality of,

continuous matched independent sealing serrations. disposed around matched commoditydeiining pockets. thereon, a reciprocable arcuate filling duct'operative intimed relationship with said rotatable elements,- mandrels mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pocket for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commoditydeeding member respon sive to the position of said mandrels for depositing commodities in said packages formed by said mandrels and said commodity-defining pockets.

12; A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers having commodity-defining pockets thereon, means for feeding two webs of packagin fabric between the cooperating rollers, a hollow reciprocating mandrel to spread the webs into the pockets and form a series of envelopes therein and means for feeding the articles to be packaged through the hollow mandrel into the web envelopes.

13. A packaging machine comprising-a pair of cooperating rollers having a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs between "the cooperating rollers, means for supplying a stream of articles between the webs wherebythe rollers press the webs together around the individual articles, said supplying means including a reciprocable duct, and a web-spreading mandrel at one end of and reciprocable with said duct, the articles passing from the duct via the mandrel to enter the pockets. 7 I

14. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers mounted with their axes'horizontal and having'a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs downwardly between the cooperating rollers, means for supplying a stream of articles between the webs, a reciprocally operating mandrel adapted simultaneously to enter successive pockets in succession and spread the webs to form envelopes for the articles without inter iering with the flo-wflof the articles into the the pockets, and said rollers having continuous matched sealing serrations disposed around said commodity-defining pockets, to effect a multiple barrier hermetic seal around 'each envelope.

15. A pair of cooperating rollers having circumferentially spaced commodity-defining pockets, a pair of spaced webs, means for bringing the webs together where the rollers are in cooperation and feeding them between the rollers, a hollow. mandrel reciprocated to expand the webs into the pockets of the rollers to form open envelopes to receive a. series of commodities to be packaged.

16. A pair of cooperating rollers having circumferentially spaced commodity-defining pockets, a pair of spaced webs, means/for bringing the webs together where the rollers are in cooperations-and feeding them between the rollers, a hollow mandrel reciprocated to expand the webs into the, pockets of therollers to form open envelopes, and a feedductqfor. delivering a series of commodity increments. betwee'n'the webs and into the pockets'through the hollowmandrel.

' 17-. A pair of cooperatingrollers havingoiroumferentially spaced commodity-defining pockets, a pair of spaced webs, means for bringing the webs together where'therollersare in cooperationand feeding them between,the:ro11ers,..a-ho1low mandrel reciprocated to expandv the webs into the pockets of the rollers to formopen envelopes, a

feed duct for delivering a series of commodity increments between the webs and into the pockets through the hollow mandrel, and means for insuring that a measured quantity of the commodity enters into each pocket.

18. In a machine for forming hermetically sealed commodity-containing packages of strips of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of matched counter-rotating sealing elements abutting each other at a tangential sealing location and having a plurality of continuous matched independent sealing serrations disposed around each of a plurality of commodity-defining pockets thereon, a reciprocable filling dpct operative in timed relation with said sealing elements to advance a column of commodities toward said sealing location, a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for formin packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feedin member for depositing a commodity in said packages formed by said mandrel and said pockets.

19. In a machine for forming hermetically sealed commodity-containing packages of strips of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of matched counter-rotating sealing elements abutting each other at a tangential sealing location and having a plurality of continuous matched independent sealing serrations disposed around each of a plurality of commodity-defining pockets thereon, a reciprocable filling duct operative in timed relation with said sealing elements to advance a column of commodities toward said sealing location, a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a timed release mechanism mounted on and in said duct for permitting a. predetermined amount of commodity to pass from said duct and be deposited through said mandrel in said pockets between said strips.

20. In a machine for forming a commoditycontaining package of two webs of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of similarly sized rotatable element having a plurality of continuous matched independent sealing serrations disposed around each of a plurality of commodity defining pockets spaced in a predetermined array thereon, said pair of rotatable elements abutting each other at a tangential sealing location, guiding rolls for placing said webs of packaging material in contact with the surfaces of said rotatable elements at a predetermined angular distance apart from said tangential sealing location, a reciprocable filling duct operative in timed relation with said rotatable sealing elements to advance a column of commodities by gravity toward said sealing location, a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a timed release mechanism mounted on and in said duct for permitting one commodity at a time to pass from said duct and be deposited through said mandrel in said'pockets between said webs.

21. In a machine for forming commodity-containing packages of webs of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of similarly sized rotatable elements having a plurality of matched commodity-defining pockets thereon, a recipro cable filling duct operative in timed relation with said rotatable elements, a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said commodity-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and a commodity-feeding member responsive to the position of said mandrel fOr depositing commodities in said packages formed by said mandrel and said commodity-defining pockets.

22. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers having a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs between said rollers, and means for supplying a stream of articles between the webs whereby the rollers press the webs together around the individual articles, said supplying means including a reciprocating duct, a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct and reciprocable therewith to spread the webs into the pockets, and a timed article release mechanism mounted on and in said duct for regulating the release of articles from said duct.

23. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers with their axes horizontal and at least one of said rollers having a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs of packaging material downwardly between said rollers, a filling duct reciprocable in timed relation with said rollers to advance a stream of articles toward said pockets by gravity, and a mandrel mounted at one end of said duct cooperatively associated with said pockets to spread said webs into said pockets.

24. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers with their axes horizontal and having a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs of packaging material downwardly between said rollers, a reciprocable filling duct to advance a stream of articles toward said pockets by gravity, means mounted at the lower end of said duct for spreading said webs into said pockets, and a timed release mechanism carried by said duct for permitting a predetermined commodity increment to fall from said duct into each package.

25. The invention set forth in claim 24 in which said timed release mechanism includes a spring secured at one end to said duct and biased away therefrom, a cap mounted on the free end of said spring and having oppositely extending tines projecting through apertures in said duct, and means for horizontally reciprocating said cap so that first one and then another of said tines intercepts said stream of articles.

26. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating sealing rollers with horizontal axes and having a series of peripherally-spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs of packaging material downwardly between said rollers, an arcuate filling duct having a horizontal end and a vertical end to advance a stream of articles toward its vertical end by gravity, means for reciprocating said duct in timed relation with said rollers, means for supplying articles to the horizontal end of said duct, a hollow mandrel mounted at the vertical end of said duct for spreading said webs to conform to said pockets and adapted so that articles can pass therethrough from said duct to enter the pockets between the webs, and a timed release mechanism carried at the vertical end of said duct for assuring that one article enters each package, said mechanism including a spring secured at, one end to said duct and biased away therefrom, a cap mounted on the free end of said spring and having oppositely extending spaced tines projecting through apertures in said duct, and means for horizontally reciprocating said cap so that first one and then another of said tines intercepts said stream of articles,

27. In a machine for continuously forming article-containing packages of two webs of flexible packaging material, a pair of cooperating sealing rollers having a series of peripherally spaced article-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding said webs between said rollers, a reciprocable mandrel operable in timed relation with said rollers and cooperatively associated with said pockets to spread the webs to conform thereto, and means for conducting articles to said pockets between said Webs.

28. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers mounted with their axes horizontal and having a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs downwardly between the cooperating rollers, means for supplying a stream of articles between the webs, and a reciprocally operating mandrel adapted simultaneously to enter successive pockets in succession and spread the webs to form envelopes for the articles without interfering with the now of the articles into the pockets.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,481,866 Heist Jan. 29, 1924 1,592,784 Smith July 13, 1926 2,038,759 Roberts Apr. 18, 1936 2,083,617 Salfisberg June 15, 1937 2,232,783 Hausheer Feb. 25, 1941 2,245,827 Salfisberg June 17, 1941 2,274,681 Fletcher Mar. 3, 1942 2,350,930 Salfisberg June 6, 1944 2,372,406 Treneer Mar. 27, 1945 2,403,482 Cloud July 9, 1946 2,420,983 Salfisberg May 20, 1947 2,424,103 Lobley et a1 July 15, 1947 2,497,212 Donofrio Feb. 14, 1950 

